Acute Toxicity Study and In-vivo Anti-inflammatory Activity of Different Fractions of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. Rhizome in Albino Wistar Rats

The effects of hydroalcoholic extract (HE) of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. rhizome (Hypoxidaceae) and its alkaloidal and non-alkaloidal fractions (AF) and (NAF) were evaluated in carrageenan-induced paw edema experimental models of inflammation. The oral administration of HE, their AF and NAF fractions were used at doses of 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg. The effect produced by the HE, AF and NAF fractions were comparable to that of indomethacin with a dose of 10 mg/kg as the reference drug. The percentage of inhibition of inflammation of all extracts was dose dependent. The crude HE showed 22.45%, 35.62% and 39.03% inhibition; AF showed 31.68%, 36.89% and 41.17% inhibition; and NAF showed 28.34%, 34.49% and 37.43% inhibition of induced hind paw edema in rats at doses of 100 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, respectively, while indomethacin inhibited 48.66% of the edema. The acute toxicity evaluation showed that all extract were not toxic up to 2000 mg/kg (p.o). The results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts as claimed in folk Indian medicine.